It's never easy to change your diet without feeling deprived - even though you know it's the right thing to do. I handle change differently than my husband ... I face it head on replacing the 'no-no' foods with alternates - updating favorite recipes to be more compliant energizes me. It annoys Tom. He tends to look for what's different rather than embrace a new flavor or especially a new texture. Adding fiber is an excellent way to combat high cholesterol - that and filling your plate with color.

As I said in an earlier post, Tom is doing rather well and working hard to remember to look at the nutritional analysis on the foods he's eating. I reminded him to look for saturated fat and cholesterol. For those meals when the cholesterol is higher than I suggested for him, he adds foods that will add color and fiber to his diet.

Though I felt as though I neglected his diet a bit last week because I was so busy, he managed quite nicely on his own ... not the way I would have done it ... but OK.

In effort to give him the best opportunity to stay on track I've been cooking/baking all afternoon. It's not a burden as it is for some women because I love to cook. So the day began with a scan of both freezers and refrigerators to see just what was left after last week. Boneless pork ribs, chicken legs/thighs, a container of leftover Italian beef Tom had made, homemade chicken broth, lean stew meat and two zucchini. Once I put a menu together based on what I had on hand and what Publix had on sale, I was off to the store - list in hand.

We opted to eat the pork chops with apples and carrots for dinner. I knew it wouldn't be Tom's cup of tea, so to speak, so I made the strawberry-rhubarb crunch for dessert. I was right ... Tom said the pork was a little dry. I couldn't disagree with him ... no fat ... no bone = a somewhat dry pork chop, at least based on what he's used to eating. Me? I found it very edible, especially when coupled with a piece or apple and/or carrot. He'll learn ... frying a pork chop in his grease of choice (butter) without removing excess fat is something he'll need to bypass ... at least for now.

For the record, the crisp was a hit ... but I know he would have preferred the topping to be something more like his mother used to make (flour, sugar, butter), but mine's close ... remove the flour ... add oatmeal. Yeah, he's not a big fan of crunchy when he wants 'melt in your mouth.' But he said he liked it.

I am ...

... a former blogger for a health site, which means eating healthy aka heart smart
which has become a passion for me. I will start at the beginning when I first
discovered I had high cholesterol.
Blogger's Note: First and foremost, please do not go off any meds if
you are currently taking something for high cholesterol! It is critical
that you follow your doctor’s orders. I am NOT a doctor nor am I
experienced enough to provide you with advice.

This blog is simply my journal of how I lowered my cholesterol.
I am working with a doctor ... but, should you ask him he’d probably
say he worked for me, which is true and should be ... in my opinion.

The things I have changed have worked for me and may work for you, but
as I said, I’m not telling you to stop taking any meds your physician
has prescribed for you, but to talk to him about some options you are
willing to consider.